U.S. patent number 5,351,187 [Application Number 07/998,369] was granted by the patent office on 1994-09-27 for automatic debiting parking meter system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AT/COMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to John J. Hassett.
United States Patent |
5,351,187 |
Hassett |
September 27, 1994 |
Automatic debiting parking meter system
Abstract
An apparatus for automatic payment of parking fees in a parking
zone includes a stationary RF transmitter unit transmitting a
signal encoding the parking fee rate per unit time and, in some
embodiments, the maximum parking period and time and date to
cooperate with a transponder carried in the vehicles to be parked.
A portable transponder in each vehicle includes a receiver for
receiving the broadcast signal from the stationary transmitter, a
memory which can be preloaded with monetary amounts to generate a
prepaid credit, a data processor for controlling the activity of
the responder and decoding incoming signals, and a display for
indicating to the vehicle operator or to a traffic monitoring
person external to the vehicle, the status of the memory in the
transponder as to the whether the vehicle is validly parked at any
given time. Upon parking, the operator actuates the transponder
and, if it receives and recognizes a broadcast signal from a
stationary transmitter, it so indicates on the display, proceeds to
debit the prepaid amount stored in the memory of the transponder
decreasing the balance in the transponder memory by the amount per
unit time over the time period and displaying an invalid parker
indication when either the credit amount in the transponder memory
is reduced to zero or the vehicle has remained in the parking zone
beyond the maximum allowed time.
Inventors: |
Hassett; John J. (Marblehead,
MA) |
Assignee: |
AT/COMM Incorporated
(Marblehead, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
25545121 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/998,369 |
Filed: |
December 30, 1992 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/13; 235/384;
340/928; 705/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
7/0008 (20130101); G06K 19/0723 (20130101); G06Q
10/087 (20130101); G06Q 20/105 (20130101); G06Q
20/127 (20130101); G07B 15/02 (20130101); G07F
17/0014 (20130101); G07F 17/246 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
15/00 (20060101); G07B 15/02 (20060101); G07F
15/12 (20060101); G07F 7/00 (20060101); G06Q
10/00 (20060101); G06K 7/00 (20060101); G06K
19/07 (20060101); G06F 015/21 (); G07B 015/00 ();
G08G 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;235/382,384,380
;364/401,467 ;340/825.54,988,928,991,992,932.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58-222369 |
|
Dec 1983 |
|
JP |
|
159526 |
|
Jul 1987 |
|
JP |
|
63-288399 |
|
Nov 1988 |
|
JP |
|
01259484 |
|
Oct 1989 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
Desmond, "Toll Both Net Automates Fare Collection Saves Cash",
Network World, vol. 6, No. 23, pp. 4-6. .
Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Engineering, Van Norstrand
Reinhold Company, Inc., 1983, pp. 563-565..
|
Primary Examiner: Envall, Jr.; Roy N.
Assistant Examiner: Tran; Khai
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lahive & Cockfield
Claims
Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured
by the Letters Patent is:
1. Apparatus for automatically debiting vehicular parking fees in a
specified area comprising,
a stationary transmitter broadcasting a signal over said specified
area including zones for pay parking, wherein said broadcast signal
includes information indicating a monetary fee per unit time for
parking in said zones, and
a portable transponder to be carried by a vehicle, said transponder
including,
a) a receiver for receiving said broadcast signal,
b) a read/write memory for storing information indicative of a
monetary amount,
c) means for providing information external to said transponder of
said monetary amount in said memory at a given time, and
d) a data processor coupled to both said read/write memory and said
receiver, said data processor responding to said broadcast signal
being sensed by said receiver by decreasing said monetary amount in
said memory by said monetary fee per unit time for the time
duration of parking, said memory providing a specific output signal
indicative of the status of said monetary amount in said memory, or
said parking status being invalid, said data processor providing
for entering into said memory a signal indicative of a specified
monetary value in response to an externally applied signal.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said broadcast
signal information indicates current date and time and said data
processor decreases the monetary amount in said memory as a
function of time.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said broadcast
signal is in an RF range.
4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for
providing information external to said transponder of said monetary
amount in said memory comprises a display unit readable external to
said vehicle.
5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for
providing information external to said transponder includes a
transmitter for transmitting information outside of said vehicle of
the parking status or monetary amount in said memory.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for
providing information external to said transponder of the monetary
amount in said memory comprises means for interrogating said memory
in response to a specific externally applied interrogation signal
and transmitting said signal indicative of the monetary amount in
said memory in response to reception of said externally applied
interrogating signal.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including means actuable by
the vehicle operator to activate a program in the transponder for
receiving the transmitted signal, decoding the transmitted signal
and changing the information stored in said transponder memory as a
function of time to debit a monetary amount in the memory at a rate
controlled by said information indicating a monetary fee per unit
time transmitted by the area station.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said read/write
memory includes means for storing a parking credits signal
representative of a monetary quantity available for paying any fees
associated with remaining in said paid parking area.
9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said transponder
data processor includes means for tracking an elapsed time that
said vehicle is within said pay parking zone, said time being in
relation to said current date and time received from said
stationary transmitter.
10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said transponder
data processor includes means for calculating a fee based on said
broadcast fee per unit time and said elapsed time, and for
periodically debiting said parking credits signal to reflect said
fee.
11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which said transponder
data processor includes means for storing in said read/write memory
a running total of said fee charged, and said transponder includes
display means for displaying to a vehicle operator at least a
present quantity of balance of monetary amount of said running
total.
12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the data processor
stops the debiting operation and, when the means actuable by the
vehicle operator has been actuated for a predetermined time period,
corresponding to a maximum allowed parking period in the covered
area provides an output signal indicative of this condition.
13. A method for automatically debiting vehicular parking fees in a
specified area comprising the steps of;
(a) entering into a memory a signal indicative of a specified
monetary amount in response to an externally applied signal,
(b) broadcasting a signal from a stationary transmitter over said
specified area including zones for pay parking, wherein said
broadcast signal includes information indicating a monetary fee for
parking in said zones,
(c) receiving said broadcast signal in a receiver in a portable
transponder carried by a vehicle,
(d) storing information indicative of a monetary amount, in said
read/write memory in said transponder,
(e) providing information external to said transponder of said
monetary amount in said memory at a given time, and
(f) responding to said broadcast signal being sensed by said
receiver by decreasing said monetary amount in said memory by said
monetary fee for parking, and
(g) providing a specific output signal indicative of the status of
said monetary amount in said memory, or said parking status being
invalid.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said broadcast
signal information indicates current date and time and the monetary
fee per unit time and the monetary amount in said memory is
decreased as a function of time.
15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said broadcast
signal is in an RF range.
16. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said specific
output signal indicative of the status of said monetary amount in
said memory is readable external to said vehicle.
17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said specific
output signal is transmitted outside said vehicle from a
transmitter within said vehicle.
18. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said steps of
providing, external to said transponder, information of the
monetary amount in said memory is done by interrogating said memory
in response to a specific interrogation signal applied external to
said vehicle and transmitting outside of said vehicle said signal
indicative of the monetary amount in said memory in response to
reception of said externally applied interrogating signal.
19. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein a program in said
transponder is activated for receiving the transmitted signal,
decoding the transmitted signal and changing the information stored
in said transponder memory as a function of time to debit a
monetary amount in the memory at a rate controlled by said monetary
parking rate transmitted by said stationary transmitter.
20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the debiting
operation is stopped, an output signal is provided indicative of
this condition when the apparatus of said program has been
activated for a predetermined time period, corresponding to a
maximum allowed parking period in the covered area.
21. A method in accordance with claim 14 in which an elapsed time
that said vehicle is within said pay parking zone is tracked, said
time being in relation to said current date and time received from
said stationary transmitter.
22. A method in accordance with claim 21 which includes the step of
calculating a fee based on said broadcast fee per unit time and
said elapsed time, and periodically debiting said parking credits
signal to reflect said fee.
23. A method in accordance with claim 22 including the further step
of storing in said read/write memory a running total of said fee
charged, and displaying in said portable transponder to a vehicle
operator at least a present quantity of balance of monetary amount
of said running total.
24. Apparatus for automatically debiting parking fees for vehicles
in a specified area comprising,
a stationary transmitter broadcasting an RF signal over said
specified area including zones for pay parking, wherein said
broadcast signal includes information indicating a monetary fee per
unit time for parking in said zones, and a signal indicating
current date and time, and
a portable transponder located within said vehicle, said
transponder including,
a) a receiver for receiving said broadcast RF signal,
b) a read/write memory for storing information indicative of a
monetary amount,
c) means included within said transponder for providing information
external to said transponder of said monetary amount in said memory
at a given time, and
d) a clocking source;
e) a data processor coupled to said read/write memory, said
clocking source and said receiver, said data processor being
activated to respond to said RF broadcast signal being sensed by
said receiver by decreasing said monetary amount in said memory by
said monetary fee per unit time for parking in accordance with a
time derived from said clocking source, said memory providing a
specific output signal indicative of the status of said monetary
amount in said memory, or said parking status being invalid, said
data processor providing for entering into said memory a signal
indicative of a specified monetary value in response to an
externally applied signal.
25. Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said means for
providing information external to said transponder of said monetary
amount in said memory comprises a display unit readable external to
said vehicle.
26. Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said means for
providing information external to said transponder includes a
transmitter for transmitting information of the parking status or
monetary amount in said memory outside of said vehicle in response
to an interrogating signal.
27. Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said means for
providing information external to said transponder of the monetary
amount in said memory comprises means for interrogating said memory
in response to a specific externally applied interrogation signal
and transmitting said signal indicative of the monetary amount in
said memory in response to reception of said externally applied
interrogating signal.
28. Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein the data
processor stops the debiting operation and provides an output
signal indicative of this condition when the means actuable by the
vehicle operator device has been actuated for a predetermined time
period, corresponding to a maximum allowed parking period in the
covered area.
29. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 in which said transponder
data processor includes means for tracking an elapsed time that
said vehicle is within said pay parking zone, said time being in
relation to said current data and time received from said
stationary transmitter.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
The subject matter of this application is related to that disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,389 entitled Automatic Toll Processing
Apparatus and is a Continuation-In-Part of copending U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 945,523 entitled Electronic Parking and
Dispatching Management Method and Apparatus which is itself a
Continuation-In-Part of copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.
901,278, entitled Traffic Monitoring and Management Method and
Apparatus, which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No.
5,144,553, entitled Electronic Vehicle Toll Collection System and
Method. The above cited patents and patent applications are
assigned to the assignee of the present application, and are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for monitoring
and collecting appropriate fees for parking in specific locations,
such as designated parking zones in specific areas, such as
sections of a city etc. More particularly, it relates to apparatus
and method for utilizing a stationary radio transmitter to
automatically collect fees for vehicle parking in a restricted area
by communicating parking fee information to all vehicles carrying
an actuated transponder within the area, and by collecting the
required parking fees from those vehicles by means of debiting a
prepaid monetary amount stored in a memory within the
transponder.
In areas which provide for metered parking such as in designated
parking zones on city streets, meters, requiring cash to be
inserted, provide paid parking per unit time. In this situation the
deposited cash is collected from the meters from time to time and
parking monitors, or police, ticket vehicles parked beside meters
where the paid for time has expired.
The metered parking system known in the art does, however, have
drawbacks. For example, the vehicle operator must have cash in the
correct denominations, and the cash stored in the meter must be
collected from time to time. The meters themselves are sometimes
subjected to abuse, entry of false coins and other treatment
rendering them inoperative.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an
automatic parking payment system which debits prepaid amounts
credited in a vehicle borne transponder, which responds to an area
transmitter transmitting a cost per unit time signal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for paid
parking in designated zones on city streets without requiring cash
deposits and transfers at the parking zone.
Other general and specific objects of the invention will in part be
obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly speaking, the present invention employs a portable
transponder to be carried in a vehicle for cooperation with a
specific area RF transmitter, broadcasting continuously a signal
indicative of monetary parking fees as a function of time in that
specific area. The transponder includes a receiver, a read/write
memory component, a human interface including actuating devices and
a display, and a data processor. In operation, the transponder is
first brought to a station owned by the parking facility, or by a
credit source and, in exchange for payment, an amount of money is
credited in the transponder memory to cover expected parking fees
for a suitable period of time. The transponder is then carried in
the owner's vehicle. Upon entering a pay parking area such as a
particular area of a city, and parking the vehicle in a parking
zone, the transponder is activated by the vehicle operator. If the
transponder receiver detects a broadcast RF signal indicating rate
of payment, for example, 25.cent. for 15 minutes, it transmits this
signal to the data processor which commences debiting the monetary
amount stored in memory at the specified rate. The transponder may
include a clocking source so that over any given period of time the
proper amount for the parking fee is debited.
The transponder includes a display element which displays an
indication that the transponder is meeting its monetary obligations
with respect to the broadcast signal, or conversely, that the
transponder has run out of credit and is no longer able to debit
its memory to pay the transmitted parking fee. In this latter case
the display will indicate this status, as for example, "a no
credit" or "invalid parker" display. The individual monitoring the
parking area can then ticket that vehicle.
In another embodiment the individual monitoring the parking area
may carry a scanning device which provides a signal interrogating
the status of the transponder and, depending upon the received
return signal, can again determine whether there is existing credit
in the memory of the transponder.
Transponders constructed generally in a manner which will fulfill
the needs of the present invention have been described in the
previous patents and applications, referred to within this
application and incorporated herein. Those transponders can be
provided with suitable programming by conventional means in the
data processor to perform the above functions.
The advantages of the system are apparent. Such a generalized
broadcasting station and cooperating transponders can replace
parking meters. The money for the parking fees is received in
advance, at the time that the transponder memory is charged with a
credit amount. There is, accordingly, no need to collect cash from
meters in the parking zones. Similarly, the vehicle operator need
not have cash of the right denominations. As will be apparent the
same transponder may be employed in this application as is employed
in the turnpike toll paying systems as described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,144,553 and the earlier referenced applications. Variations in
the transponder contained program can be employed to provide other
features, for example, a limited parking duration. In such an
arrangement, the broadcasting station would broadcast
identification of the specific area and the transponder would be
enabled to debit its memory for only a preset amount before
rendering the "no credit" output display. This could be reset by
the operator returning to the vehicle and pushing a reset button or
the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description and the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a parking zone automatic
payment system according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram depicting the operation of the system
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a stationary transmitter
unit of the type depicted in FIG. 1 and constructed in accordance
with the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle transponder unit,
particularly adapted for operation in the system of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIG. 1, the transmitter station 11 continuously
radiates an RF signal from antenna 12 covering a specific
geographical area, for example, a section of city streets which
have parking zones in them for paid parking. The broadcast signal
includes, at least, information as to payment rate for parking, for
example, 0.25 for 15 minutes. In most cases it would also include
identification of the specific area and perhaps the date and time
of day. A vehicle 17 parking in a parking zone within the area
carries a portable transponder 19. When the vehicle is positioned
in an appropriate parking zone, the operator activates the
transponder by pushing a button or the like. The transponder
includes a receiver, which upon receiving the RF signal from the
stationary transmitter 11, provides an output indication to the
operator through a display in the transponder. The display also,
typically, provides an indication of the monetary parking rate in
that area.
The transponder may be arranged so that, once actuated, it
initiates the action of debiting an internally stored credit amount
by the transmitted monetary parking fee rate. Alternatively, the
system may be arranged to require a second activation to start this
process. For the period that the vehicle 17 remains in the parking
zone, the debiting action continues until either the operator
returns and stops the action of the transponder, or the transponder
credit balance goes to zero. In the latter case, the display
indicates that the balance is used up, or the transponder may
include a circuit which can be scanned externally by a person
serving as a parking monitor who can scan with an interrogator to
determine the status of the account balance. In the case that the
vehicle is still in the parking zone and is out of funds, a parking
ticket can be issued. Similarly, if the area has a maximum time
limitation, for example, two hours, at the expiration of the
two-hour period of actuation, the transponder is programmed to stop
the debiting action and to provide an output signal on the display
or to an interrogator at that the vehicle is no longer validly
parked.
While the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 uses an RF radiated
signal, it will be appreciated that other types of irradiated
signals such as infra-red, microwave etc. can be employed.
Such transponders are known in the art. A specific transponder
suitable for this purpose is described with reference to FIG. 4.
herein. It will be understood that the transponder can obtain
prepaid credit by going to an appropriate station operated by the
parking authority or by another suitable credit authority and upon
payment of cash the transponder can have its memory loaded with a
signal indicating a corresponding monetary amount. Alternatively, a
so-called smart card carrying a microchip may interface with other
circuit components to transfer data or instructions to or from the
vehicle transponder 19.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the operations of the automatic paid
parking system of this invention. As illustrated, the initial
operation, 110 is one where the prepayment information is loaded
into the transponder 19. This is accomplished by taking the
transponder to an appropriate station of the appropriate parking
authority, or other designated credit organization, and making a
cash payment, in exchange for which the equivalent amount is loaded
into the memory 28 of the transponder through port 40. As
illustrated at block 111, the stationary transmitter 11 is
continuously generating an output signal indicative of the parking
fee rate within its covered area, and may also include information
as to the time and date and to the maximum allowed period of
parking. In step 112, the vehicle carrying the transponder 19 is
parked in the parking zone within the specific area covered by
signal broadcast from a stationary transmitter 11. In this same
step 112, the transponder 19 in the vehicle 17 is activated by its
operator, for example, by operating a switch or push button. If the
transponder receiver 36 detects an appropriately coded RF signal,
it provides, as indicated in step 113, in a display readable by the
operator, such as in an LCD display, information that the radio
field is being broadcast, the parking rate for that specific zone,
and the balance of the monetary amount in the transponder
memory.
The transponder is programmed to commence a debiting operation
through its data processor and memory to debit the broadcast fee
rate as a function of time against the monetary balance carried in
its memory. This may be initiated automatically as indicated in
step 114, or this activity may require a second manually entered
activation by the operator.
This activity by the transponder terminates in step 115 on the
occasion of any one of three events. The first is that the operator
returning to his vehicle deactivates the switch on the transponder,
the second is that the debiting action reduces the monetary balance
in the transponder memory to zero, and the third is that the
maximum allowable time period expires. This latter event may be
determined, either by a timer within the transponder, or by a
maximum amount corresponding to the maximum time period for the
product of the maximum time period times the parking fee rate,
having been debited. In the latter two instances, the transponder
still being in an actuated state, has the status of an invalid
parker.
After the termination of the debiting action, if the transponder
remains actuated, the invalid parker status is made available to a
monitoring person outside the vehicle, as indicated in step 116 by
transmitting an invalid parking status signal in response to an
interrogation signal actuated by the monitoring person, or, as
indicated in step 117 by providing a visual display of this invalid
parker status.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a stationary transmitter unit 11 of
the type depicted in FIG. 1 and constructed in accordance with the
invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the
illustrated transmitter utilizes radio frequency signal generating
elements, the invention can also be practiced in connection with
transmitter components utilizing infrared (IR) or other radiant
electromagnetic energy wavelengths.
As discussed above, the stationary transmitter repeatedly emits an
encoded signal that provides the vehicle transponders with
information regarding the monetary rate per unit time for parking,
the maximum period for parking, if applicable, and, perhaps, a date
time signal and parking area identification. The format of the
particular communications is discussed below.
Each of the illustrated stationary transmitters units 11 may
include a conventional transmitter 14; an antenna element 12; a
memory element 13, including a random access memory (RAM) 13a, or
an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) 13b; a power
supply element 15; a back-up battery 16; a microprocessor element
17; and an AC power supply element 18. These components are
conventional in design and materials, and the transmitter elements
can be constructed in accordance with known engineering practices.
The complete transmitter assembly is preferably enclosed in a
rugged weatherproof housing, to withstand the ranges of
temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet radiation typical of the
outdoor environment.
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle transponder 20,
particularly adapted for operation in the systems depicted in FIGS.
1 and 2. The vehicle transponder 20 includes a processor element
22, an associated EPROM 24 for storing control software 26, a CMOS
RAM memory element 28 for storing information collected from a
transmitter unit of the type depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, as well as
credit information representing prepaid monetary amounts, control
firmware 30, an RF transmitter 32, and associated antenna module
34, an RF receiver 36 and an associated antenna 38, human interface
elements 42 and 44, a bi-directional communications port 40 and a
vehicle transponder actuating element 50 for signaling the vehicle
transponder that a parking period is beginning or ending and
placing the transponder in a state to determine if it is receiving
an appropriate broadcast signal.
The processor element 22 can be an 8086 or other microprocessor
capable of executing the calculations necessary to process the
collected information. The microprocessor 22 also controls decoding
an interpretation of encoded communication signals received from a
stationary transmitter 11. The RAM element 28 preferably provides
sufficient storage to store the information collected from the
stationary transmitters of the type depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3.
The vehicle transponder antennas 34 and 38 can be incorporated into
the vehicle transponder.
The human interface elements preferably include user operable
keyboard 42, and LCD or LED display units 44. The display elements
provide visual information, such as the monetary amount of credit
stored in memory element 28, the parking time allowed for parking
in a zone, and a signal indicating either zero balance, or that the
vehicle has been parked longer than the allowed maximum time. The
display 44 and user interface keyboard 42 in combination with
conventional EPROM-stored software routines 26 for controlling the
microprocessor 22, enable the vehicle operator to view information
collected by the vehicle transponder and also to enter other
information, such as the allowed length of stay in the parking
zone. According to one embodiment, the user interface includes an
alphanumeric display having two lines of ten characters each.
The bidirectional communication port 40 enables other
microprocessors to write data into and read data out of the vehicle
transponder RAM 28. It is through this port that a prepaid monetary
balance can be entered.
The power supply elements preferably include a compact,
user-replaceable long-life battery 42, such as a lithium power
cell. The power supply also includes a battery backup 44 so that
the RAM 28 is not cleared during replacement of the lithium cell
42.
The vehicle transponder components, depicted in FIG. 4, are
conventional in design and construction, and the vehicle
transponder can be constructed in accordance with known transponder
and microprocessor control principles. The illustrated vehicle
transponder/processor 20 can be housed in a compact, portable
enclosure adapted for removable attachment to a dashboard surface
or other convenient location within the vehicle.
As previously mentioned, the vehicle transponder receiver 36
decodes, and stores signals transmitted from the stationary
transmitter. The vehicle transponder processor 20 interprets the
received signals and, in response, either collects data specified
by the signals, or signals the vehicle operator, via the human
interface, to take a specified action.
Information packets transmitted and received by the vehicle
transponder processor 20 can be flexibly configured with or without
a fixed length. Additionally, the packets can incorporate an
encrypted synchronization portion, a transaction portion, and a
check sum portion. According to the invention, the communication
format can be modified to suit particular applications.
According to one preferred embodiment, information packets are
transmitted in the form:
______________________________________ SYNC/TT/DATA/CK SUM
______________________________________
SYNC denotes an encrypted synchronization field to indicate that a
message is about to begin and that message is from a device which
is allowed access to the vehicle transponder. TT is a binary code
identifying the type of data field included in the packet. DATA is
a substantive portion of the information packet, requests for
transmission, messages to be displayed to the vehicle operator, or
requests to collect certain types of data. CK SUM represents error
detection codes used to ensure transmission fidelity.
Examples of DATA filed include:
______________________________________ DTS IDENTIFICATION OF
PARKING AREA COVERED MONETARY PARKING RATE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
PARKING PERIOD ______________________________________
DTS is a current date and time stamp. It can be included in either
a transmission from a stationary transmitter to a vehicle
transponder or from a vehicle transponder to an external
interrogator. IDENTIFICATION is a code, transmitted from a
stationary transmitter, and indicative of the particular parking
area covered. MESSAGE is a data field, transmitted from a
stationary transmitter, containing a message for the vehicle
transponder, such as monetary fee per unit time for parking or
maximum allowed time for parking in the covered area. The vehicle
transponder may alert the operator as to the message by activating
the visual user interface.
While the above discussion describes the invention in terms of an
illustrative hardware embodiment, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that a method of automatically monitoring vehicle
parking according to the invention, can be operative with a
plurality of alternate hardware embodiments.
It will thus be seen that the invention efficiently attains the
objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the
preceding discussion. In particular, the invention provides method
and apparatus for providing an automated system for collecting
vehicle parking fees in a parking zone.
It will be understood that changes may be made in the above
construction and in the foregoing sequences of operation without
departing from the scope of the invention. The illustrated radio
frequency transmitters, for example, may be replaced by infrared
transmitters or emitters operating in other regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above
description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as
illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.
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